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- Gold Operator
- Insight Vacations
- Explorer
- Curated to ignite your sense of adventure
- Group Tour
- Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
- Fully Guided
- An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
- Guided in English
- Group Size 20 - 40
- Age range 5 to 99
Places You’ll See

Highlights
- Explore historic Gaslamp Quarter and Little Italy
- Tour Balboa Park and Old Town State Historical Park
- Ride Angel's Flight and stroll Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Drive Pacific Coast Highway and visit Santa Monica Pier
- Walk across Golden Gate Bridge and ferry past Alcatraz
Itinerary
- Introduction
- Day 1 Welcome to San Diego
- Day 2 San Diego Sightseeing
- Day 3 Los Angeles Sightseeing
- Day 4 Journey to the American Riviera
- Day 5 Discover California's Central Coast Relaxed Start
- Day 6 Giant Sequoias
- Day 7 Exploring Yosemite National Park Relaxed Start
- Day 8 On to San Francisco
- Day 9 San Francisco Sightseeing Relaxed Start
- Day 10 Farewell California
What's Included
- Accommodation
- Guide
- Meals
- Additional Services
- Transport
- Free eSIMTourRadar offers the lead traveler (the person who booked) a free 1GB eSIM for the trip. The eSIM is redeemable only through the TourRadar app 72 hours before departure.
What's Not Included
- Flights
- Insurance
- Optional
- Additional Services
Where You'll Stay
Kimpton Alma, San Diego
Hotelday 1InterContinental Downtown, Los Angeles
HotelDays 2, 3Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort
Hotelday 4Mar Monte Hotel - Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Santa Barbara
Hotelday 5Valley Lodge, Yosemite National Park
HotelDays 6, 7Hyatt Regency Embarcadero, San Francisco
HotelDays 8, 9

Operated by
Insight Vacations
Number of tours
753
Age Range
5 to 99 years old
Response time
10 hours
Response rate
96%
When you travel with Insight Vacations every second is magical. You won’t...
Read moreSustainability Initiatives
Reduce Carbon Emissions
Animal Welfare
Supporting Destinations
Sustainability Programs
Customer Reviews
- Overall RatingExcellent
- ItineraryExcellent
- GuideExcellent
- TransportExcellent
- AccommodationExcellent
- FoodExcellent
- EWELLEN· November 15th, 2019Great trip overall. Too little time in Yosemite. Disappointed that our bus couldn't drive on the PCH from Monterrey to San Simeon. We didn't realize this when we booked and had been looking forward to that. Lynne Hendrick was a terrific tour guide and Travis was a wonderful, capable driver.Show moreInsight Vacations commented on this reviewThank you for sharing this with us, it is brilliant to read about your experience on the Best of California tour with Insight Vacations. We are very pleased to know that your Travel Director’s passion and knowledge of Italy set the tone for an amazing... Show moreTrip date: October 2019
- Beat· October 17th, 2019I normally travel on my own, but this time, I decided to go with Insight Vacations, as the tour looked great and I didn't want to do all the driving. I can certainly recommend Insight Vacations - book a tour with them if you enjoy travelling in style and exploring many sights within a short period of time. Our guide Jason was excellent, and the whole trip was extremely well organised. In my personal opinion, we could have skipped Yosemite National Park - it was the only place I wasn't overly impressed with, particularly with the accommodation and the staff there. The included meals were good but not great (I suppose it's difficult when you go in a group), so I could have done with a few more free evenings instead. But again, this was my personal opinion. Other than that, the trip was fantastic, and I left California with many unforgettable memories.Show moreInsight Vacations commented on this reviewIt certainly pleases us to learn that Jason went above and beyond to make your time in the United States a memorable one. Also, we are very happy to learn that you enjoyed your complete experience on the road. Furthermore, we truly look forward to... Show moreTrip date: October 2019
- LWLouise· September 1st, 2019We had a really enjoyable bus tour. Great variety in the locations, really nice weather and it is a great way to see California in a short period of time. Our tour guide Linda and our bus driver Scott were fabulous. Linda kept us amused with her jokes and Scott was an excellent driver so I felt safe particularly on those hair pin bends into Yosemite and later into Malibu. Really highly recommend this trip.Show moreTrip date: August 2019
- LSLauren· August 3rd, 2019Everything was amazing! We went to great places and saw a lot. The tour guide and bus driver were the best! I was so impressed by how organized it was.Show moreInsight Vacations commented on this reviewWe are very pleased to hear that your time on the Best of California tour was a memorable one. On top of that, we hope that you were able to go back home with some amazing memories and we look forward to welcoming you back in the near future.Trip date: June 2019
- TTitaniaCheong· June 25th, 2019It was my first time to USA and I decided to travel with Insight Vacations as I have great experience with this operator on my previous trips to Europe. Best of California has a good balance of cosmopolitan cities and beauty of nature. It allows me to meet up both my friends in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles respectively so that’s it! When I arrived into San Francisco, sense of familiarity from the city (Singapore) I came from. Westin St. Francis Hotel is the only hotel on Union Square and with cable cars just outside the doors. All the city’s best shopping, theatre, nightlife and dining options are just steps away. Being a wine lover, I am excited about the private tasting in Sonoma and had one of the best Sauvignon Blanc (I prefer red wine anytime). Welcome reception of champagne at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa delighted everyone, this is my favourite hotel of the trip for its hospitality, room, ambience to the ala carte breakfast selections. Highlight dinner in El Dorado Hotel & Kitchen, love the cuisine with local wine, service and fellow travellers at the table! On route to Yosemite National Park, was not only comfortable with extra legroom space, the vantage point from the height of the motor coach and panoramic window view enable me to take some great photos. There were ample time for us to get around the national park. The majestic Yosemite Fall, shuttle service, visitor centre and restaurants are just directly opposite from the doorstep of our lodge. Hearst Castle brought me back to the 1930s during the social peak where their guest list comprised most of the Hollywood stars of the period; Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant and the Marx Brothers and etc. This 90,000 sqft estate was built between 1919 and 1947 by William Randolph Hearst, the publishing tycoon, and his architect Julia Morgan. Our local expert in Los Angeles is informative and we had the chance for a private tour of Los Angeles Theatre which was part of the city orientation. Despite the many highlights of this trip, one of the best highlight for me is the comraderies amongst the 32 fellow travellers including myself along with our Travel Director, Monica and driver, Kevin.Show moreTrip date: June 2019
- MGMario· August 27th, 2017The success of any tour depends on the itinerary,the tour director and coach driver. My recent tour had the best of these features.Show moreTrip date: August 2017
- MAMarie· June 15th, 2017We had an amazing experience with Darren, our driver and Anandji, our director on the Best of California tour. We got to see so many places, the hotels and included meals were all excellent. The bus is very comfortable, and the pace, although brisk, is quite doable. Anandji is so professional, patient and accommodating - we really enjoyed every moment of our trip! Thank you, guys!Show moreTrip date: June 2017
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What our customers ask about this tour
The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.- C
Charo
Asked on March 15th, 2025How long before the tour departure will I know if it's running?
- Insight VacationsOperator•Written March 2025
You will be notified at least 60 days prior to departure if the tour will run.
- A
Alois
Asked on March 8th, 2025Is travel insurance necessary for this tour?
- Insight VacationsOperator•Written March 2025
Travel insurance is highly recommended for all participants undertaking the tour.
- D
Debbie
Asked on December 27th, 2024What is the maximum group size for this tour?
- Insight VacationsOperator•Written December 2024
The maximum group size is capped at 40 guests for this tour.
- A
Aurélien
Asked on December 19th, 2024Can I reach out for further questions after booking?
- Insight VacationsOperator•Written December 2024
You can reach out to us via the Ask a Question button for any additional inquiries.
- N
Natascha
Asked on November 25th, 2024How do I check the availability of the tour?
- Insight VacationsOperator•Written November 2024
To check availability, please provide your details and we will inform you of the current status.
- A
Antonio
Asked on October 30th, 2024What is the activity level of this tour?
- Insight VacationsOperator•Written October 2024
This trip features a balanced activity level with daily walking distances and mixed types of sightseeing.
- R
Riad Atlas
Asked on July 2nd, 2024What are the luggage allowances for this trip?
- Insight VacationsOperator•Written July 2024
Luggage should not exceed 30"x18"x10" in size and 50 lbs in weight.
- J
Jose Antonio
Asked on May 23rd, 2024Do I need a visa for this tour?
- Insight VacationsOperator•Written May 2024
Visa requirements depend on your nationality and travel plans. Please verify with your local embassy for details.
- D
Daniela
Asked on March 14th, 2024Is it possible for you to give me a date of when you will know whether (or not) the trip will run?
- Insight VacationsOperator•Written March 2024
We will only know at least 60 days prior to departure if the tour will be departing. Also unfortunately we don't have access to see how many people have already booked this tour.
- D
Daniela
Traveler•Written March 2024This means that you will know (for certain) on (or before) the 15th April 2024 whether the tour will go ahead or not.
- Insight VacationsOperator•Written March 2024
Should the Best of California tour departing on 14 June become a definite departure, we will most certainly let you know. Should your dates become flexible in the meantime, do let us know and we will book you on a date that has a guaranteed departure - so far, that is the 10th of May.
D2 more answers - S
Sara
Asked on March 1st, 2024Are airport transfers included in the tour price?
- Insight VacationsOperator•Written March 2024
Airport transfers can be purchased separately, and they are not included in the tour price.
Good to Know
Tour ID: 218940
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